Region: tropical Africa, Angola, southern DR Congo, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, northern S. Africa.
Habitat: bushland, woodland, savannah, rocky hillslopes; elevations to 1600 metres; hot and dry areas, tropics; susceptible to frost; prefers well-drained, basic soils; on various soil types, alluvial flats, sandy or loamy soils; near rivers to sandy and dry soils; rocky slopes; on poorer soils; drought tolerant.
Use: medicinal; emergency source of water in dry areas; plant as a hedge, fence; bark fibre for cloth; wood for poles, planks, household utensils, bowls, spoons, carts, musical instruments, tourist items, veneer, plywood, furniture, floor blocks, light construction, flooring, vehicle bodies, cabinet work, interior trim, agricultural implements, boxes, crates, core stock, matches, toys, novelties, turnery, hardboard, particle board, pulpwood, charcoal.
BotanySemideciduous tree; large, spreading, rounded crown; 6 to 20 metres tall; fast-growing tree.
Stem: clean; to 100 cm in diameter; heartwood is pale brown or green-brown, with attractive dark brown veining; sapwood is yellow-white or pale grey, grain is usually straight, locally interlocked, the texture is fine, susceptible to Lyctus borers; wood is fairly light, soft to moderately hard, moderately durable, saws easily, rapidly blunts tools, due to the presence of silica crystals, polishes readily, glues satisfactorily, slices and peels well.